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Contents

   



(Top)
  


1 Service pattern  




2 Rolling stock  




3 Formations  


3.1  Rakuraku Biwako 1 and 2  




3.2  Rakuraku Biwako4  






4 History  




5 See also  




6 References  




7 External links  













Rakuraku Biwako






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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  

Rakuraku Biwako
Overview
Service typeCommuter Limited Express
StatusOperational
PredecessorBiwako Liner
First service2 June 2003
Current operator(s)JR West
Route
TerminiOsaka
Kusatsu / Maibara
Distance travelled110.5 km (68.7 mi)
Average journey timeapprox. 1 hr 28 mins (Ōsaka–Maibara)
Service frequency1 morning working from Maibara to Ōsaka
1 evening working from Ōsaka to Maibara
1 evening working from Ōsaka to Kusatsu
Line(s) usedTokaido Main Line (Biwako Line and JR Kyoto Line)
On-board services
Class(es)Ordinary + Green
Disabled accessYes
Sleeping arrangementsNone
Catering facilitiesNone
Observation facilitiesNone
Entertainment facilitiesNone
Other facilitiesToilets
Technical
Rolling stock681 series EMUs, 683 series EMUs, KiHa 189 series DMUs
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Track owner(s)JR West

The Rakuraku Biwako (らくラクびわこ, Rakuraku Biwako) is a commuter limited express train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Osaka and MaibaraorKusatsu in Japan since June 2003. It replaced the previous Biwako Liner services.[1]

Service pattern[edit]

As of March 2024, one weekday morning service (Rakuraku Biwako1) runs from MaibaratoOsaka, and two weekday evening services (Rakuraku Biwako 2 &4) run from Osaka to Maibara and Kusatsu respectively, with the journey time from Osaka to Maibara taking approximately 1 hour 28 minutes.[2]

Rolling stock[edit]

Services were initially operated using the nine-car 681 series or 683 series EMUs used on Thunderbird services.[1]

Formations[edit]

Rakuraku Biwako 1 and 2[edit]

Rakuraku Biwako 1 and 2 (between Osaka and Maibara) are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Maibara end.[3]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Accommodation Green Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

Rakuraku Biwako4[edit]

Rakuraku Biwako 4 (Osaka to Kusatsu) is formed as follows, with car 1 at the Osaka end.[4]

Car No. 1 2 3
Accommodation Reserved Reserved Reserved
Facilities     Wheelchair-accessible toilet

History[edit]

The Biwako Express service was introduced from 2 June 2003.[5]

The service was made entirely no-smoking from 1 June 2009.[6]

The service started calling at Minami-Kusatsu Station,[7] and all seats become reserved[8] from 13 March 2021.

Effective the 16 March 2024 timetable revision, all services were renamed to Rakuraku Biwako. At the same time, 9-car 683 series sets operated on this service were replaced with 6-car 681 or 683 series sets.[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 2008. p. 40. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
  • ^ "より便利になる通勤特急を「らくラク～」シリーズに統一します" [Unification of the more convenient commuter express trains into the "Rakuraku" series.] (PDF). West Japan Railway Company (in Japanese). Japan. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  • ^ a b "らくラクびわこ (車両案内)". jr.odekake.net (in Japanese). Japan. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  • ^ a b c JR時刻表 [JR Timetable] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. March 2016. pp. 110, 985.
  • ^ 特急｢びわこエクスプレス」の運転、 特急｢はるか｣の米原延長運転の開始 [Start of Biwako Express limited express service and extension of Haruka services to Maibara]. News release (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 18 April 2003. Archived from the original on 11 October 2003. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  • ^ 在来線特急列車などの全席禁煙化ならびに在来線ホームの禁煙化の拡大について [Complete ban of smoking on limited express trains and station platforms]. News release (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 18 April 2003. Archived from the original on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  • ^ "2021年3月13日にダイヤ改正を実施します" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). 西日本旅客鉄道近畿統括本部. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  • ^ "「e5489チケットレスサービス」（在来線）の拡充および特急列車指定席の拡大について" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). 西日本旅客鉄道. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  • ^ "JR西日本、近畿エリアを走る通勤特急は「らくラク」シリーズに統一" [JR West Unifies Rakuraku Limited Express Services]. MyNavi Corporation (in Japanese). 3 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.

    • External links[edit]


    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rakuraku_Biwako&oldid=1222722310"
    Categories: 
    ●Named passenger trains of Japan
     ●West Japan Railway Company
     ●Railway services introduced in 2003
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    ●This page was last edited on 7 May 2024, at 15:19 (UTC).
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